Interleukin 12 in Takayasu's Arteritis: Plasma Concentrations and Relationship with Disease Activity

DILEEP K. VERMA, NARESH K. TRIPATHY, NAR S. VERMA, and SUNITA TIWARI

ABSTRACT.

Objective. To investigate plasma concentrations of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and their relationship with disease activity in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA).

Methods. IL-12 levels were determined by quantitative enzyme immunoassay in the plasma of 80 patients with TA, 25 age/sex matched healthy controls, and 15 followup patients with active TA on immunosuppressive therapy.

Results. Significantly increased levels of IL-12 were observed in patients with TA versus controls (90.6 ± 365.3 vs 6.9 ± 11.3 pg/ml; p < 0.05) and in patients with active versus inactive TA (168.7 ± 507.0 vs 12.6 ± 26.9 pg/ml; p = 0.005). The prevalence of IL-12 (the cytokine levels above cutoff value) was higher in patients than in controls [44% (35/80) vs 12% (3/25); p < 0.01] and in patients with active versus inactive TA [57% (23/40) vs 30% (12/40); p < 0.05]. Six of the 9 patients who became inactive on followup also had normalized levels of IL-12.

Conclusion. The data indicate that IL-12 might be an important mediator of inflammation in TA. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:2361-3)

Key Indexing Terms:

INTERLEUKIN 12
TAKAYASU'S ARTERITIS
DISEASE ACTIVITY

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From the Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University; and the Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

D.K. Verma, MD, Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University, N.K. Tripathy, PhD, Department of Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute; N.S. Verma, MD; S. Tiwari, MD, MAMS, Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University.

Address reprint requests to Dr. S. Tiwari, Department of Physiology, KGMU, Lucknow – 226003, India. E-mail: physiologykgmc@yahoo.com

Accepted for publication July 18, 2005.

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